Container construction and parts therefor or the like



J 1967 R. 1.. WALDROP ETAL CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed March 22, 1965 N m 0 T mJ ED Bv mm June 20, 1967 R. L. WALDROP ETAL 3,326,364

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT L WALD ROP DAVID J. TOOKER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,326,364 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Robert L. Waldrop, Bon Air, Va., and David J. Tooker,

Richardson, Tex., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,575 19 Claims. (Cl. 20656) This invention relates to an improved container construction having easy open means as well as to an improved blank for forming such a container construction or the like.

This invention provides a container construction comprising a rigid board means to define a pair of opposed side wall means and a pair of opposed top and bottom walls with the top walls being defined by a pair of top flaps disposed in overlapping relation and respectively interconnected to the opposed side wall means.

A product containing pouch means is formed from flexible material and the like and has a desired product sealed therein. The top end of the product containing pouch means is secured between the overlapping top flaps whereby the pouch means is completely encased in the rigid board means for protection thereof even though the rigid board means defines opposed open end walls.

One of the side wall means is provided with a tear-away section which is interconnected to the overlapping top flap and extends completely across the one side wall means whereby when it is desired to open the container construction of this invention, the ultimate consumer grasps the tear-away section and rips the same from the container construction whereby the product containing pouch means will be readily exposed and can be readily removed therefrom in a manner hereinafter described for product dispensing purposes. 2 Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved blank for forming such a container construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved container construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one step for initially opening the container construction of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a. perspective view illustrating a further step in the opening of the container construction of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another step in the opening of the container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view and illustrates the method of dispensing the product from the pouch means of the container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view illustrating the improved blank of this invention for formingthe container construction of FIGURE 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter. described illustrated as being particularly adapted to provide a container construction containing a prod uct containing pouch means, it is to be understood that the container construction of this invention can be utilized for other purposes, if desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only Patented June 20, 1967 "ice the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a rigid board means 11 suitably folded in a manner hereinafter described to define a pair of opposed side wall means 12 and 13 and a pair of opposed top and bottom wall means 14 and 15, the top wall means 14 comprising a pair of top flaps 16 and 17 disposed in overlapping relation and respectively interconnected to the side wall means 12 and 13.

A product containing pouch means 18 is disposed in the board means 11 and has a top portion 19 secured between the overlapping top flaps 16 and 17 by any suitable adhesive in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the product containing pouch means 18 is fully secured in the board means 11 and is protected thereby even though the board means 11 defines a pair of opposed open end walls 20 and 21.

The side Wall means 12 has a tear-away section 22 interconnected to the overlapping top flap 16 and extending completely across the side wall means 12. The tearaway section 22 is defined by a plurality of slits 23 in the side wall means 12 in spaced relation, each slit 23 including a straight end 24 disposed parallel with the other straight ends 24 and an opposed reversely curving end 25 disposed parallel with the other reversely curving ends 25 but offset relative to the other ends 25 to, define a substantially triangular tear-away section 22 having an apex 26. The apex 26 is defined by a slit having a straight in termediate portion 27 and opposed reversely curving ends 28 bisected by an unslit portion 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The one side wall' 12 has a plurality of substantially radially disposed slits 30 passing therethrough and intersecting the straight portion 27 at the apex 26 to define a depressible area 31 below the apex 26 of the tear away section 22.

When the ultimate consumer desires to open the package construction 10 of FIGURE 1, the ultimate consumer presses his thumb on the depressible area 31 whereby the area 31 will push into the construction 10 to expose the edge of the apex 26 of the tear-away section 22 so that the same can be readily grasped in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, the ultimate consumer pulls upwardly on the tear-away section 22 whereby the same separates from the 'wall 12 by tearing between the spaced slits 23 from the apex 26 out to the outer edge of the wall 12. In this manner, the section 22 is completely separated from the wall 12 and carries the overlapping flap 16 therewithwhereby the tear-away section 22 and top flap 16 can be completely removed from the container 10 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, the ultimate consumer can fold 'down the remaining portion of the wall 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to fully expose the product containing pouch means 18. By grasping the product con taining pouch means 18 and pulling upwardly on the same in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the top section 19 of the pouch means 18 can be separated from the underlying top flap 17.

Subsequently, the ultimate consumer can open the product containing pouch means 18 in any suitable manner. For example, the top portion 19 of the product containing pouch means can be slit open or torn open in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby the product 32 can be dispensed therefrom in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container construction 10 of this invention is relatively simple to manufacture while providing full protection means for the product containing pouch means 18. In addition, the container construction of this invention can be readily opened in a simple and effective manner in the manner previously described to provide access to the product containing pouch means 18 for product dispensing therefrom.

While the product containing pouch means 18 can be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings is formed from a lamination including metallic foil and heat sealable material whereby the product 32 can be readily heat sealed in the resulting pouch means 18 for product protection and the like.

While the board means 11 can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings is formed from cardboard or the like and is formed from a blank 33 of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 6.

In particular, the blank 33 comprises a single sheet of material in rectangular form and having transverse parallel scores 34, 35, 36 and 37 extending across the same to respectively define in series the top flap 16, side wall 12, bottom wall 15, side wall 13 and top flap 17.

In addition, the blank 33 has the slits 23 formed therein in the manner previously described as well as the slits 30 so that the blank 33 can be folded on the score lines 34-37 thereof to form the container construction 10 in a simple and effective manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved container construction having easy open means therefor, but also this invention provides an improved blank for forming such a container construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A container construction having wall means provided with a tear section, at least part of said tear section being defined by a plurality of slits in spaced relation in said wall means, each slit having a straight end parallel with the other straight ends and an opposed reversely curving end substantially identical to the other reversely curving ends, each reversely curving end having a first part perpendicular to its respective straight end and a second part parallel to its respective straight end and extending in a direction opposite thereto.

2. A container construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein each reversely curving end is offset relative to the adjacent reversely curving ends.

3. A container construction comprising a rigid board means folded to define a pair of opposed side walls having opposed free side edges and a pair of opposed top and bottom walls, said top wall including two top flaps in overlapping relation, one of said side walls having a tear away section means interconnected to the overlapping top flap and extending completely across said one side wall to said side edges thereof at points spaced from said overlapping top flap so that when said section means is torn away it carries said overlapping top flap therewith and opens said rigid board means.

4. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tear section means is substantially triangular.

5. A container construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one side wall is slit adjacent the apex of said tear section means to define a depressible area to facilitate grasping of said tear section means.

6. A container construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tear section means is defined by a plurality of slits in spaced relation in said one side wall.

7. A container construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein each slit has a straight end parallel with the other straight ends and an opposed reversely curving end substantially identical to the other reversely curving ends,

each reversely curving end having a first part perpendicular to its respective straight end and a second part parallel to its respective straight end and extending in a direction opposite thereto.

8. A container construction comprising a rigid board means folded to define a pair of opposed side walls having opposed free side edges and a pair of opposed top and bottom walls, said top wall including two top flaps in overlapping relation, and a product-containing pouch means disposed in said rigid board means and having an end secured between said top flaps, one of said side wall means having a tear aWay section means interconnected to the overlapping top flap and extending completely across said one side wall to said side edges thereof at points spaced from said overlapping top flap so that when said section means is torn away it carries said overlapping top flap therewith and exposes said pouch means.

9. A container construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tear section means is substantially triangular.

10. A container construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein said one side wall is slit adjacent the apex of said tear section means to define a depressible area to facilitate grasping of said tear section means.

11. A container construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tear section means is defined by a plurality of slits in spaced relation in said one side wall.

12. A container construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein each slit has a straight end parallel with the other straight ends and an opposed reversely curving end substantially identical to the other reversely curving ends each reversely curving end having a first part perpendicular to its respective straight end and a second part parallel to its respective straight end and extending in a direction opposite thereto.

13. A blank for forming a container construction comprising a sheet of material to define wall means of said container construction, said wall means being provided with a tear section, at least part of said tear section being defined by a plurality of slits in spaced relation in said wall means, each slit having a straight end parallel with the other straight ends and an opposed reversely curving end substantially identical to the other reversely curving ends, each reversely curving end having a first part perpendicular to its respective straight end and a second part parallel to its respective straight end and extending in a direction opposite thereto.

14. A blank as set forth in claim 13 wherein each reversely curving end is offset relative to the adjacent reversely curving ends.

15. A blank for forming a container construction comprising a single sheet of material transversely scored to define in series a first top flap, a first side wall having opposed free side edges, a bottom wall, a second side wall and a second top flap to be overlapped by said first top flap, said first side wall having a tear away section means interconnected to said first to flap and extending completely across said first side wall to said side edges thereof at points spaced from said first top flap so that when said section means is torn away it carries said first top flap therewith and opens said container construction.

16. A blank as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tear section means is substantially triangular.

17. A blank as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first side wall is slit adjacent the apex of said tear section means to define a depressible area to facilitate grasping of said tear section means.

18. A blank as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tear section means is defined by a plurality of slits in spaced relation in said first side wall.

19. A blank as set forth in claim 18 wherein each slit has a straight end parallel with the other straight ends and an opposed reversely curving end substantially identical to the other reversely curving ends, each reversely curving end having a first part perpendicular to its respec- 5 6 tive straight end and a second part parallel to its re- 2,967,010 1/1961 Culley et al. 22951 spective straight end and extending in a direction opposite 3,004,697 10/ 1961 Stone 229-51 thereto. 5 3,035,692 5/1962 Forrer 22940 3,051,367 8/1962 Einhorn. References 01M 5 3,144,129 8/1964 Weisberg. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,233 2/1965 Ignell. 1 Monk. Becker et a1. 1:9 :5 2 1/1935 Weiss. 3,223,310 12/1965 Becker et a1. 20656 2,225,810 12/1940 Waters. 2,363,861 11/1944 Goodyear. 10 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Exammer.

2,732,998 1/ 1956 Rurnsey. DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

8. A CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A RIGID BOARD MEANS FOLDED TO DEFINE A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS HAVING OPPOSED FREE SIDE EDGES AND A PAIR OF OPPOSED TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID TOP WALL INCLUDING TWO TOP FLAPS IN OVERLAPPING RELATION, AND A PRODUCT-CONTAINING POUCH MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID RIGID BOARD MEANS AND HAVING AN END SECURED BETWEEN SAID TOP FLAPS, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS HAVING A TEAR AWAY SECTION MEANS INTERCONNECTED TO THE OVERLAPPING TOP FLAP AND EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS SAID ONE SIDE WALL TO SAID SIDE EDGES THEREOF AT POINTS SPACED FROM SAID OVERLAPPING TOP FLAP SO THAT WHEN SAID SECTION MEANS IS TORN AWAY IT CARRIES SAID OVERLAPPING TOP FLAP THEREWITH AND EXPOSES SAID POUCH MEANS. 